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Ag Life

Extension entomologist Robert Wright took over the speaking duties at the end of the day Jan. 6 at the Crop Production Clinic in York to discuss recent studies on the resistance to insecticides for some of today’s biggest pests in agriculture -- the western corn rootworm and the western bean cutworm.

One of the top priorities at the Crop Production Clinic in York Jan.6 included the topic of invasive insects and what Nebraska farmers should look for when identifying pests in their fields.Extension crop protection and cropping systems specialist Justin McMechan spoke to the hundreds in attendance about the issues facing producers today when it comes to the small creatures most would prefer out of their fields. One such insect that has seen an increasing presence around the state is the Japanese beetle.Read more in this week's print or e-editions.

While the farming industry advances steadily every year to improve upon previous growing season’s results, so do all the elements trying to make a producer’s life more difficult.Graduate research assistant Terra Hartman spoke to a crowd of more than 100 Jan. 6 at the Crop Production Clinic in York, where she discussed to all the new and old corn diseases found around the state.Read more in this week's print or e-editions.

As the concept of cover crop usage continues to grow in popularity, experts like Keith Berns, owner of Green Cover Seed, take the idea seriously by also focusing on what each individual soil selection may require.“We’ve been doing cover crops since 2009,” Berns began during his Dec. 14 speech at a Crop Tip forum in York. “We also started Green Cover Seed in 2009 as a way to provide cover crop seed as an additional business.

Aurora native Mitch Oswald has joined AgriGold as a field advisor serving clients in Hamilton County.Oswald, a 2012 Aurora graduate, earned a degree in agronomy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

A continued focus to purchase ethanol and biofuels from the United States will keep prices for soybeans and corn fluctuating going into 2017, at least until the South American projections and new cabinet positions are better understood.That was the prediction from Michelle Rook, a well-known South Dakota radio commentator who shared her perspective as part of a Crop Tip event in York Dec. 14.Read more in this week's print or e-editions.

The Upper Big Blue NRD (Natural Resources District) hosted its annual Crop-Tip event in York on Dec. 14, where a handful of ag-related speakers gave presentations to the crowd including climatologist Al Dutcher.As the University of Nebraska Extenstion agricultural climatologist, Dutcher specializes in climate data analysis, soil moisture analysis, weather forecasting, crop/weather relationships and drought monitoring.Read more in this week's print or e-editions.

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association's director of grower services, Morgan Wrich, spoke to a Hamilton County audience Dec. 5 discussing the integration and changes between her agency and the Nebraska Corn Board.“We are a grassroots organization founded in 1972,” Wrich explained to the audience. “We are not a state-based organization. We are funded by membership dues paid by our members.”Read more in this week's print or e-editions.

Renewable energy was the topic for discussion at a University of Nebraska Extension workshop last week in York, and more specifically solar energy.John Hay, an Extension educator expert in renewable energy, gave a presentation about solar energy at a workshop put on by York County Extension educator Jenny Rees.Read more in this week's print or e-editions.

Changes are coming for those who are raising food production animals. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is enforcing a veterinary feed directive (VFD) regulation update starting on Jan. 1, 2017.Last week, Dan Pachta of the Aurora Veterinary Clinic held a meeting for local cattle producers explaining what the upcoming regulations mean for their operations.Read more in this week's print or e-editions.